Retirement Lake Home: Max Fulbright Design
Hi, We finally get to build our first home. Daughter is off to college and now it is our time. So excited. We have just bought a fully wooded 3+ acre lake lot, with underground utilities, city water but will have to install a septic. We want to start building as quickly as we can. We have never built before and are trying to find plans on the internet that we can live with out too many changes. This is not easy for me to look at these drawings. We have scheduled meetings with a couple of local contractors to find out what our budget of $350,000 will get us. We want something in our hand to show them. Our lot has a steep slope starting in the center going towards the lake. We have been looking at Max Fulbright's house plans: Asheville & Banner Elk 2012 We like the cottage feel of them.
I was hoping to get some feed back from this group.
~We have one daughter away at college and many friends/family that will be overnight guests. So wanting each bedroom to have it's own bath.
~Want a walk out basement
~The front of the lot faces East and the back faces the West. Looking for good sunsets but also do not want to have a hot house in the afternoon.
~We would like the plans to include a 2 or 3 car garage attached.
~The Banner Elk has a wrap around porch that my husband likes. I am not sure what kind of maintenance that will add.
~We are wanting to live here full time, as little maintenance as possible.
~ We want very little grassy yard.
~ Our build budget is $350,000 I hope our budget gets us more house than we think but so I won't get too disappointed I am starting out simple.
Here is the Asheville:
http://www.maxhouseplans.com/home-plans/mountain-house-floor-plan/https://www.houzz.com/photos/asheville-mountain-home-house-plan-traditional-exterior-atlanta-phvw-vp~574231-Mountain-Home-House-Plan-traditional-exterior-atlanta
Here is the Banner Elk (I like the interior color choices in the interior photos):
http://www.houzz.com/projects/48094/Banner-Elk-House-Plan
and here:
http://www.maxhouseplans.com/home-plans/mountain-house-plans/mountain-house-plan-loft/
Thank you for any feed back.
pitterpatter
Here is a link that might be useful: House plans by Max Fulbright
This post was edited by pitterpatter94 on Tue, Mar 4, 14 at 20:15
Comments (18)
DreamingoftheUP
10 years agoRelated Discussions
Feedback Please on Our "Retirement" Home
Comments (26)New_to_sc, you are very gracious and please keep on posting. I agree with ILoveRed in both her most recent comments. I think many of the more strident comments made on what you can afford are either based upon the poster's own circumstances --what they can afford -- or by reading too much in the description as a "retirement home" and would have been different if it had been described as a "forever home." Not "everyone" agreed that it was too large even for a retirement home. Everyone agreeing that it was NOT too large was speaking of the main floor and clearly recognized that there is additional space in the basement. I think the basement is ideal because the point is that if you have everything you need on the main floor the basement can be closed off when not in use by guests after you retire and no longer need the basement office. If one retires at 60 or 65, or even earlier, occasional trips down to the basement may not be a problem for many years, if ever. Sure, cleaning the basement could eventually become more problematic as we age, but closed off it will only need periodic upkeep (which can be hired). Even so, keeping a basement that is occasionally used and can be shut off between uses clean, is probably much easier than the upkeep on, say, a pool or a large lawn that some want for their retirement home (that upkeep may also need to be hired out as well). But to each his own....See MorePlease critique this floor plan by Max Fulbright
Comments (3)It's a very pretty plan! But the kitchen could use some work and the dining room looks a little small. Are you sure you want to pay for stairs and all the extra living space on 2nd floor, just for a loft? If you eliminate the bedrooms, your roof lines sound like they would be changing. And where is the 4' you plan to add to the great room going to go in the front of the house? Bigger foyer? Have you considered taking these plans in as a starting point and having someone draw up a new home plan....just for you? It might be better in the long run. Also think about the kitchen layout (which could be better) not to mention the corner range, the angled island and what looks like sharp corners. My hips hurt just looking at that kitchen! Sorry, but I'd be banging into those island corners all the time :) My advice...take this plan over to the kitchen forum, before you do anything else....See MoreTips for Buying Land, Designing and Building A Custom Home Part 1
Comments (7)The one thing I would add is don't let anyone (realtor, builder, brother-in-law) tell you that a lot is 'OK'. It's very important to do as much of your own due diligence as you can when considering your future home. We were once showed a home across the street from a sewage treatment plant. It was an ideal location for us, being very close to our son's school. We were assured by the realtor that there was 'no odor problem'. Over the next 11 years, we had the opportunity to drive by that neighborhood every day as we brought our son to school. It reeked! Outdoor activities would have been impossible many days. The realtor either didn't know, or outright lied to us. There are many tools available to check out the neighborhood. Many areas have a GIS site (Geographic Information System) to check things like flood zones, topography, crime stats, even soil types. You can zoom out to find out what else is in the area, such as a hog farm you didn't know existed. It's not a bad idea to check with the local city/county to see what kind of future plans they have for the area. You don't want to find out about the new Interstate or airport after you've built your dream home. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I never consider a parcel unless it has a current 'perk' (percolation) test for a septic system. There are work-arounds, but they are expensive, and sometimes downright ugly. Who wants a mound system in the front yard (because there wasn't room in the back)? If the lot is on city sewer, then it's not a consideration....See MoreCritique My Parents Possible Retirement Home Please
Comments (100)dchall_san_antonio: What I think is hilarious is that I already answered your question of 10ft ceilings up thread and yet you are asking again for some reason. Here's what I said" They want the grand feeling that 10 ft ceilings offer. And yes, my Dad is 6'5." Not to mention 10 ft ceilings are more efficient to cool in warm climates as you correctly assumed the home will be in. But someone in the appraisal business should already know that, right? So does that mean you can give back the 15 yard penalty now? Let me correct you on a few more items. Don't assume my parents will not use an outdoor kitchen. They have one now and it is used at least twice a week in nice weather. Now that they will be moving to a warm climate it will be used even more. I clearly said they thought this home was a "good value" as they want to put a lot of money into a boat with storage and the pool area. So the assumption that "money is no object " is absurd. I talked about and the plan shows a large linen closet near bedrooms 2 and 3. And a linen cabinet in the Master bath. So to say "One linen shelf for four bedrooms and three bedrooms is not enough. " is again, incorrect. The great room plan is 25'4" x 17' 9". So wrong on that point as well. Wow, you must be up to at least a 50 yard penalty for all the incorrect assumptions and lack of comprehension!...See Morenanj
10 years agojhernan
10 years agoedeevee
10 years agopitterpatter94
10 years agoThank you all for the comments.
-DreamoftheUP: We are in a subdivision where the roads are paved the house will set back about 75 ft from the road. I didn't think about the cost of clearing the lot. We want to keep as many trees as we can.
-deikoe: We live in Missouri. Our close friend, who is a building inspector, is giving us some advise on the septic issue. There is city water. Build set back is 75ft from road and the lot drops off at around at around 150 ft back, about half way to the lake. We will not be close to the water because of the terrain.
-Nanja: I know this house I posted seems small to me. And I like to cook also and appreciate the helpful comments about the kitchen.
-Jhernan: He email me variations also. The Banner Elk 4 has the attached garage and more square footage. But no screened in porch. I am worried about the wrap around porch shading the interior but the porch would be nice because of the slope we have on our lot. It would be easier to walk around the house with it.
-Edevee: Thank you for the encouragement.
-We need to start soon because the owner of the Condo we are renting wants to put it on the market to sell but has agreed to hold off until we have built our home. Plus my daughter is having a fit that we have moved out of her home town, away from friends/civilization she says, which is driving me a little crazy from hearing her complain. The new house will be closer to the metro area. Plus her friend will want to visit because of the lake.
-I am wondering about the heating and cooling of a house with cathedral ceilings and a loft. Our electric bills in this condo have been between 400 and 500 this winter. When we are on a fixed income in a few years that will really matter.
We live in Missouri and there are a lot of offers coming in from people anxious to get some work on a house. We sold our last house that was paid for so we will not have any loans on this house. We also hope that helps get a better build price. We want to go into this house with out any kind of debt since we are a few years from retirement.
- Here is the other floor plan by Fulbright called River's Reach (also Asheville Mountain Home), similar but I do not like the two story entry. How do you clean the windows?
Thank you again for all your helpful thoughts.
pitterpatter
pitterpatter94
10 years agoHere is the exterior of the Asheville with out the attached garage as on the floor plan.
pitterpatter94
10 years agoHere is the interior (my style would be not as much or any stained wood. I like white trim and walnut flooring, bronze hardware):
dekeoboe
10 years ago4everfam
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agopitterpatter94
8 years ago
PROMax Fulbright Designs
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago- PRO
Max Fulbright Designs
8 years agoHere are a couple that we recently got in from a customer that I love! They added an L-shaped 3 car garage but most of the interior shots should be the same.
Asheville Mountain 3 Car Garage · More Info
Asheville Mountain 3 Car Garage · More Info
Asheville Mountain 3 Car Garage · More Info
Asheville Mountain 3 Car Garage · More Info
Asheville Mountain 3 Car Garage · More Info
Asheville Mountain 3 Car Garage · More Info
Asheville Mountain 3 Car Garage · More Info - PRO
Max Fulbright Designs
8 years ago doglover11
7 years agobrian196
6 years agostylistbiscuit
6 years ago
dekeoboe